TV stations modify year-end program

TV stations modify year-end program

JAKARTA (JP): The fasting month of Ramadhan, Christmas and New
Year, which occur concurrently at the end of this year, have
forced local TV stations to modify their year-end programming.

If in the past TV stations usually planned extensive programs
for each of the events, this year most of them are reducing the
proportion for each event.

Contacted separately by The Jakarta Post, the TV stations
reacted differently to the situation with most of them agreeing
to continue to air their Ramadhan programs during New Year and
the Christmas period.

Admitting that the advertisement spots for SCTV's end of the
year program has been sold, Uki Hastama, the station's public
relations officer, said that the coincidence of the three events
has impacted on the station's income.

"In previous years our clients had a separate budget for each
category of Ramadhan, Christmas and New Year programs. Yet, it
seems that this year they have combined all the three budgets
into one," said Uki. He added that some of the advertisers, like
producers of sarongs, have a distinct target audience in each
Ramadhan season.

SCTV will air a musical each for Christmas and New Year.
Christmas in the slum will be the theme of Natal Merah Putih (Red
and White Christmas), a musical, which will feature child artists
Rebecca Tumewu, Tika Panggabean, Ricki Johanes and child singer
Joshua.

An off-beat musical Satoe Indonesia about a group of diverse
characters stuck in an elevator will be aired by SCTV on New
Year's Eve. The program will feature well-known singers Yana
Julio and Reza.

Social differences will be the theme of the ANteve Christmas
program this year. Reza, an up and coming singer, will appear in
ANteve's musical Dua Gadis Cilik (Two little girls), which will
be aired on Thursday and Friday. The story line will be about the
friendship between Vina, a wealthy girl, with Asih, a street
hawker. The musical will be directed by Harry Dagoe, who directed
Mencari Pelangi, an award winning short feature film about the
dreams of a shoe-shine boy, which will also be aired on Thursday.

ANteve will also air Bias Kasih, a musical about an encounter
between a rich boy and a poor boy, on Friday. The musical will
feature singers Rebecca Tumewu, Katon Bagaskara and Glen among
others.

ANteve's human relations manager, Zoraya Perucha, said that
they had not found any difficulty in selling advertisement spots
since planning a year in advance had already anticipated the
event sequence.

"Most of our programs for the end of the year will be produced
in-house to reduce costs," said Theresia Ellasari, TPI's
corporate communications manager.

TPI's program for Christmas Day on Friday will feature Kring O
La La, a musical operetta, and Olesio Kasihnya, a Christmas
carols program featuring Utha Likumahua and other local singers.

RCTI will air three programs for its Christmas package this
year. Continuing its success with a children's short feature film
Mikael last year, RCTI will produce Mikael 2, which will be aired
on Thursday and Friday. The film is about Mikael, an angel who
comes to earth from heaven to teach the meaning of Christmas to
children.

With a star studded cast of Roy Marten, Moudy Wilhelmina, Rina
Hasyim and Thomas Djorghi, Megah Dalam Kasih, to be aired on
Thursday, will tell a story of a prosperous family on the edge of
bankruptcy. Since Haryoto (Roy Marten)'s family has done good
deeds in the past, the family's members blame each other for the
family's run of bad luck. As Christmas is drawing closer, will
the family reunite and celebrate the festival in peace?

Targeting a young audience, Sebab Tuhan Baik (Because God is
Benevolent) will feature a mix of discussion and religious songs
by Tamara Geraldine and singers Nugie, Dewi and Ricky Johannes.

In its Christmas program, Indosiar will air a musical with
traditional Indonesian music. Through Potret Desember (December
Portrait) it will feature the Christmas festivities in Immanuel
Church, Central Jakarta. Moving around the central theme of
street kids, the musical will feature Ruth Sahanaya and Harvey
Malaiholo with ethnic music from Irian Jaya and Sulawesi.

Along with SCTV and RCTI, Indosiar will air Christmas Mass
from the Vatican on Friday.

While RCTI is yet to confirm its New Year program with ANteve,
TPI and Indosiar only featuring films, all of the stations will
air a kaleidoscope of the year's important events. (46)